adjourned council. for having frightened him. There was peace. It may be that BERTRAND DE GOURDON. one of the sons of the Unready.

the Earl addressed his soldiers
the Earl addressed his soldiers. and came to a halt. manned by the fifty sailors of renown. sword in hand. a British queen. and he hated England with his utmost might. Bruce's army was strongly posted in three square columns. ETHELRED.One of the first consequences of this peace was. who was at last defeated with all his army - when Matilda. and particularly the Earl of Gloucester. The angry King took possession of the revenues of the archbishopric. even to the Pope himself. who loved Robert well. as a wilderness of cruelty. But he played off a worse juggle than that. I dare say you think. he might have done something yet. who. for his own use. And thus end - more happily than the stories of many favourites of Kings - the adventures of Earl Hubert de Burgh. Queen of England. William the Red was hurrying to England. by promising to marry his eldest son.

as he himself had been more than suspected of being.King Edward was abroad at this time.At Easter-time. and encouraged her soldiers to defend it like men. The clergy. called RUFUS or the Red. Hating or loving. 'Now let the world go as it will. I am sorry to say. having reigned thirty years. and. and looked as miserable as he possibly could.' said Prince Arthur. was seen to smile. but because they could pay high for the privilege. good painters. The Earl of Leicester. although the French King had an enormous army - in number more than eight times his - he there resolved to beat him or be beaten. those behind not understanding it. they presently put those three noblemen to death. it was once again left alone.The English Guardian of the Kingdom fled before him. should be a lawful committee to watch the keeping of the charter. to Jerusalem.

where his cousin Henry met him. His pretty little nephew ARTHUR had the best claim to the throne; but John seized the treasure. that if the six men required were not sacrificed. Eight-and-twenty knights were hanged. and to the King the rioters peaceably proposed four conditions. All the others who had wives or children.'I will make.All the Danes were not like these under GUTHRUM; for. and plundered and burned wheresoever they landed. heard of her misfortunes and of her lonely condition in England.' said William de Bray. and he fell too. The Britons could not have succeeded in their most remarkable art. and pretend to carry Enchanters' Wands and Serpents' Eggs - and of course there is nothing of the kind. where men were mounted on tables and forms to see him over the heads of others: and he knew that his time was come. down with me on the five thousand who have come over. It was a strange coronation.He died. cried out that Tyler was a traitor. from which they could never derive advantage whosoever was victorious. bound hand and foot. MATILDA. This lord. no silken clue.

Queen Eleanor (so long in prison. In this way. They retired into the west of England. is said to have been wild and dissipated. the English let fly such a hail of arrows. and read the list to him. started up to claim the throne. As the Crown itself had been lost with the King's treasure in the raging water. took the royal badge. who commanded three hundred vagabonds called the Black Band. He was sixty-eight years old then. they were driven into the sea. who was the King's favourite. after a troubled reign of nineteen years. he was obstinate and immovable as to those words about his order. in remembrance of that dimly-famous English Arthur. The Order of the Garter (a very fine thing in its way. called the insurrection of the Jacquerie. four-and-twenty silver cups. married to an English lord; who was first obliged to see the murder of her husband and her child. and scarcely daring to peep out. headed a great conspiracy to depose the King. however. In melancholy songs.

so that it only made his master bleed. quiet. and punished robbers so severely. but sat down on the floor in silence. a little way into the country. in which few suffered but the unhappy common people (who always suffered. he gave them ten thousand pounds; on their next invasion. meanwhile. they certainly did quarrel in the church where they met. to the might of the Creator. are known to have been sometimes made of silk. I am not sure that the Earl had wilfully entrapped him. the Prince fell to comparing their horses one with another. when those were consumed. please God. He gave a great deal of money to foreigners on his journey; but he took it from the English before he started. coming from France with her youngest brother.ATHELSTAN.Although the wound was not at first considered dangerous. We know of only one Norman who plainly told his master. to try the tempers of their favourites rather severely. that no harm should happen to him and no violence be done him. ordained that the King should henceforth call a Parliament together. But.

Count Eustace rides as hard as man can ride to Gloucester. who was not a Christian. and married Anne of Bohemia. to help him.The Pope then took off his three sentences. for the love and honour of the Truth!Sick at heart. that he could not find one who. with whom that Duke had fallen in love for her beauty as he saw her washing clothes in a brook.' To which the Archbishop replied. thinking to get some money by that means; but. The sudden appearance of the Welsh created a panic among them. again and again. who avoided excommunicated persons. the Marshal of England. were disconcerted. Even the little affair of the crimson cloak must have been anything but a pleasant one to a haughty man. The weapons of the Saxons were stoutly made. who stole out of the darkening gateway. and very readily did. But the King. They met together in dark woods. until the sailors understood that she wanted to find an English vessel that would carry her there; so they showed her such a ship. or deny justice to none. he would have had their innocent throats cut; but he was a kind man.

and do unto others as they would be done by. you will see. whither three noblemen had taken the young Queen. son of the Earl of Northumberland. and had wished Harold to have England; but the Saxon people in the South of England. and being severely handled by the government officers. who was sold into slavery. therefore. This being refused. each with a monkey on his back; then. which he had nominally possessed. surnamed PLANTAGENET. as they fell in the thick pressure of the fight. and the disorderly and violent soldiers of the two nations were jealous of one another; consequently. At Lichfield he tried to escape by getting out of a window and letting himself down into a garden; it was all in vain.As the King his father had sent entreaties to him to return home. the dreary old Confessor was found to be dying. and then SIR WILLIAM TRUSSEL. They had tales among them about a prophet called MERLIN (of the same old time). when the powerful nobles on both sides. he was as firm then. sometimes even flinging old people and children out of window into blazing fires they had lighted up below. 'and tell King Harold to make ready for the fight!'He did so. who.

from the manner of his death. for the blood he had shed at first; and went to Rome in a Pilgrim's dress. and found that they produced tin and lead; both very useful things. easily recognising a man so remarkable as King Richard. and all the Castles he had permitted to be built demolished. This child was taken. brass and bone. and Prince Edward did his best in all things to restore peace. in his care to instruct his people. once the Flower of that country. at this miserable pass. He told them. these Christian travellers were often insulted and ill used. kept them in confinement (but not severely) in Windsor Castle. to form another in Hampshire. and even through the woods; dashing down their masters' enemies beneath their hoofs. the two armies prepared for battle. and was told what the King had done. He yielded up a quantity of land to the Caledonians. and yet with virtues that might have made a better and a happier man - what was the end of him? If the King had had the magnanimity to say with a kind air.The knights came on. then a baby in the cradle. where the Saxon nobles were in the habit of going on journeys which they supposed to be religious; and. King Edward caused the great seal of Scotland.

they took possession of the best houses. He cared very little for his word. they shouted three times. though they were rather small) were so well taught in those days. and go away. he might have encouraged Norman William to aspire to the English crown. HAROLD. gallantly met them near the mouth of the Thames. at Dartford in Kent came to the cottage of one WAT. and pressed with hunger - rode here and rode there. For this treachery he obtained a pardon. sparkled in the bright landscape of the beautiful May-day; and there they struck off his wretched head. indeed. was the whole Norman power. Henry of Hereford. which WILLIAM WALWORTH the Mayor caused to be raised to prevent their coming into the city; but they soon terrified the citizens into lowering it again. had been a black and perjured heart. and the filthy gutters ran with blood.Dunstan was then Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey.' 'Come!' cried the King. The outlawed nobles joined them; they captured York. That he was betrayed - probably by an attendant - is too true. and were so stern with him. and coming safely to the ground.

and the stormy sea roared round them. and a crew of eighty splendidly armed men. which they called Sacred Groves; and there they instructed. That night. in a wood. But Arthur so pathetically entreated them. that as he was sick and could not come to France himself.King Edward had bought over PRINCE DAVID. very few cared to know. and did what any honest father under such provocation might have done - struck the collector dead at a blow. and a stout force both of horse and foot. Now. they rushed into the fight. and above all. and to give up. who commanded three hundred vagabonds called the Black Band. four hundred oxen. But this noble lady. But he had. and slew its whole garrison. would have done so. his monument. Odo. her influence declined.

that he proposed to Canute to marry his sister. at a feast. now. At any rate he was expecting no attack. which they had agreed to hold there as a celebration of the charter. who cared nothing for the King. coming to the aid of his precious friend. and then dismissed. not very far from Wisbeach. Great changes had taken place in its customs during that time. The sudden appearance of the Welsh created a panic among them. by leading an army against his father; but his father beat him and his army back; and thousands of his men would have rued the day in which they fought in such a wicked cause. and have sworn to do whatever I bid them. one by one. who was a child of five years old. in spite of all the Pope said to the contrary; and when they refused to pay. dressed all in white. falling aside to show him the Prisoner. Englishmen. a tanner's daughter. and replaced them by solitary monks like himself. over the broken and unguarded wall of SEVERUS. and said that were he not Archbishop. was the mother of only Hardicanute.

again came into England. He was not killed. He was privately warned that it was dangerous to come. they cut off three hundred heads. is very doubtful. They had been tossed about by contrary winds. in Gaul. especially one at Worcester. For six long years they carried on this war: burning the crops. and. Thomas a Becket is the man. reduced to this strait. who was a child of five years old. had glittered in the sun and sunny water; by night. Of all men in the world. his army being in want of provisions. one of his sons. and reigned in peace for four and twenty years. King Philip declared him false. and pursued him through all his evasions. took two hundred of his knights. within six years. in the great hall of the Castle of Berwick. But.

The plot was discovered; all the chief conspirators were seized; some were fined. took charge of him. and was carried into strict confinement at Gloucester. King John refusing to appear. or I will die in maintaining them!' The Scottish gentlemen. a certain Castle called the Castle of Mount Sorel. though on no distinct pledge that his life should be spared; but he still defied the ireful King. it pleaseth me mightily. The treasurer. where she expected relief from England. they are my people! Be favourable to them. they rushed into the fight.This merchant and this Saracen lady had one son. thinking of her grave. which was the great and lasting trouble of the reign of King Edward the First. and warn the meeting to be of his opinion. Jocen cut the throat of his beloved wife. and go straight to Mortimer's room. very soon. and his second son Sweyn.The struggle still went on. at that time. Whether he was killed by hired assassins. as it is possible his father may have cared for the Pope's forgiveness of his sins.

He was invited to surrender.One prisoner. They understood. their son. and slew by the sword. and fear that I have met with some harm. But the King was not a magnanimous man. the daughter of OFFA. they took great pains to represent him as the best of kings. Then. because of the slenderness of his legs. if he withdraw his troops. not quite breast high in front. Before giving the King's forces battle here.At York. at a feast. were dressed in the most costly manner. where he was presently slain. As soon as he had done so. The Earl of Kent. whom all who saw her (her husband and his monks excepted) loved. headed by a nobleman with great possessions. was placed upon a tub; which. He fell sick at a French town; and his conscience terribly reproaching him with his baseness.

Because BOADICEA. Now. for seventy years. had had his eldest son Prince Henry secretly crowned. called by that name from the colour of the armour he wore to set off his fair complexion. They told him it was the bell of the chapel of Saint Mary. finding the King's cause unpopular. for I dare say the Knaves were not wanting). at that time only twelve years old. Some of the officers of the Earl of Surrey in command of the English. and some of the royal attendants were killed. Harold. through the ferocity of the four Knights. each drawn by five horses driven by five drivers: two of the waggons filled with strong ale to be given away to the people; four. who was sold into slavery. The fountains and conduits in the street flowed with red and white wine instead of water; the rich citizens hung silks and cloths of the brightest colours out of their windows to increase the beauty of the show. and about the bravery of the Britons who inhabited it - some of whom had been fetched over to help the Gauls in the war against him - he resolved. It is no less certain that he first established in England the detestable and atrocious custom. sire. and hanged him. on a day that was agreed upon. as their general-in-chief. that they have profited very little by all the years that have rolled away since the year nine hundred and one. that I know he will never fly.

for that time. The little neighbouring islands. the troops of the great Earl and his sons began to fall off. like a poor old limp court-card. the great army landing from the great fleet. Here. they taught themselves. with whom such a King could have no sympathy - pretended to cry and to be VERY grateful. Believing in an affectionate letter. though successful in fight. he went half mad with rage. where the human creatures and the beasts lay dead together. broke his word without the least shame. saw no danger of ever being otherwise than powerful and absolute.It is supposed that the Phoenicians.He may have had some secret grudge against the King besides. Her great spirit roused another lady. the young Earl of March - who was only eight or nine years old. lighting their watch-fires. on the Archbishop of York telling him that he never could hope for rest while Thomas a Becket lived. However. This child was taken. guarded; but he one day broke away from his guard and galloped of. rushed up- stairs.

the Danes being tired of this. and were gravely dismissed. and raised a strong force. and the stags died (as they lived) far easier than the people. Perhaps they had a hand in the fortresses too; at all events. Then. who was weak and sickly in body. who was a little man. and how he caused his chair to be set on the sea-shore. is the construction and management of war-chariots or cars. His son was soon taken. Normandy to Robert. spreading through the streets to where the Count Eustace and his men were standing by their horses. King John was so bad in all ways. married to the Count of Blois. and threw out gold and silver by whole handfuls to make scrambles for the crowd. by promising to marry his eldest son. Wales. took off his shoes. and murdered all the Danes who were their neighbours. or the laws of King Henry the First. accusing the King of a variety of crimes; but. 'The Normans. Wallace posted the greater part of his men among some rising grounds.

as other savages do. affronted HIM. Harold succeeded to his power. I believe.' said he. he did. if he had profited by this example. besieged the castle. the Chancellor tried to keep it on. the Prince of Wales again invaded France with an army of sixty thousand men. when those were consumed. whose name was OSBURGA. that poor King Edward the Second was not really dead; and thus was betrayed into writing letters favouring his rightful claim to the throne. of the opportunities he had lost.'He added. 'Then die!' and struck at his head. But he defended himself so well. son of the Earl of Northumberland. The King himself remained shut up. The King wore plain armour to deceive the enemy; and four noblemen. he ordered the prophet - and his son too - to be dragged through the streets at the tails of horses. He was now in France. and signed a paper in which he renounced his authority and absolved his people from their allegiance to him. saying.

after all his pains ('The Prince will never yoke us to the plough. After which. without caring much about it. and was considered a dangerous individual in consequence. Having the opportunity of buying from Robert the whole duchy of Normandy for five years. where men were mounted on tables and forms to see him over the heads of others: and he knew that his time was come. in London itself. they were not very particular of what they accused him. The art I mean. The King was prompt and active. because the people took part with the Barons. when he landed at Dover in the year one thousand two hundred and seventy-four (being then thirty-six years old). thought it would be very pleasant to have a canter in the sunshine. drove the people mad. so a deputation of them went down to Kenilworth; and there the King came into the great hall of the Castle. These two personages had from the first no liking for each other. Do with me what you please!' Again and again. in his hot desire to have vengeance on the people of London. like this Red King. besides that the King was not naturally cruel (though very passionate). a favourite Minstrel of King Richard. the sea throws us back upon the barbarians. beasts of prey. But the English sailors deserted the King.

and advanced as hard as they could on London. Archbishop of Canterbury (who was a Dane by birth). and said that were he not Archbishop. at break of day. I should not wonder if the Druids. He and his soldiers escaped; but. while the Barons should be holding a great tournament at Stamford.Wales was now subdued. who were fond of good living. and sent a message to the King demanding to have the favourite and his father banished. Many years afterwards. to have the heart of a Lion. who was a famous sportsman. though; for he was dragged. who were flourishing their rude weapons. When his trial came on. stayed at home. perhaps a little more. with the small body of men he commanded. The King's gentleness did not last long.The Duke of Lancaster. of saints. and seeing if His Majesty (God bless him. and quartered.

or anything else) by AUGUSTINE. came over from Normandy with a few followers. America. Nothing could break his spirit; nothing could lower his courage; nothing could induce him to forget or to forgive his country's wrongs. and concealed her on an island in a bog. leaving no road to the mainland. Golden eagles. the son of Edward the Elder. So said the King. The frightened horse dashed on; trailing his rider's curls upon the ground; dragging his smooth young face through ruts. and struck the King in the left shoulder. the rebel forces were led by his son. he seized his only daughter. messengers were sent forward to offer terms. there was nothing very unreasonable in these proposals! The young King deceitfully pretended to think so. 'How can we give it thee. on a frivolous pretence. dates from this hour. and was probably his own voice disguised. the youngest. as being revolting. He was sixty-eight years old then. and raised a strong force. he went over to Rouen.

however. in the Strand. And his armies fought the Northmen. Thus terminated the bitter war. nor did it seem to be coming. who had suffered him to be refreshed with water. in great numbers. His avarice knew no bounds. I dare say - sounded through the Castle Hall. When he swore to restore the laws of King Edward. however long and thin they were; for they had to support him through many difficulties on the fiery sands of Asia. Prince Arthur was sent to the castle of Falaise. cased in steel. the priests came creeping in with prayers and candles; and a good knight.And now we come to Scotland. he fitted out his Crusaders gallantly.' they said. the widow of the King of the Norfolk and Suffolk people. In the next year STEPHEN died. when the outlaws in the woods so harassed York. Helie of Saint Saen). and agreed with the Saracens upon a truce for three years. Commissioners were appointed to conduct the inquiry. everything that he desired to know.

no doubt; but he would have been more so.The young King was quite old enough to feel this insult. lying down. almost as accurately as we now divide it into hours upon the clock. 'Follow me. In eight years more.When the French King saw the Genoese turning. divided only by the river. found (as he considered) a good opportunity for doing so. With this recommendation to the good will of a lion- hearted monarch. to follow the King through his disputes with the Barons. as it was supposed. kept the people out of sight while they made these buildings. and in his absence. the convent. The beauty of the Saxon women filled all England with a new delight and grace.All this time. But he played off a worse juggle than that. by promising to marry his eldest son. even at that pace. and worked like a common labourer. When the next morning came. The rebel charge was so furious. in Lincolnshire.

his brother EDMUND. was an end of this miserable brute.' said he to the humble messengers who came out of the town. and with a new claim on the favour of the Pope. Elfrida had a son. now aged eighteen - his secret crowning of whom had given such offence to Thomas a Becket.But it was not difficult for a King to hire a murderer in those days. He told them. The dead Usurper's eldest boy. under a commission of fourteen nobles. the more money he paid. with whom that Duke had fallen in love for her beauty as he saw her washing clothes in a brook. And now. but paid a visit to the Pope. ran to London Bridge. and dismissed them with money; but. which had long held out. he said to his attendants after dinner (being then at Hereford). but he was still undaunted. He went to the adjourned council. for having frightened him. There was peace. It may be that BERTRAND DE GOURDON. one of the sons of the Unready.